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Truth Unites

Did the FIRST Christians Worship Jesus?

Mar 3, 2025
Gavin Ortlund explores the fascinating claim that the earliest Christians worshiped Jesus as God right from the beginning. He challenges the notion that this belief developed gradually over time, referring instead to a 'Big Bang' moment of recognition. The discussion highlights key evidence, including the significance of the hymn from Philippians 2, which illustrates the early acknowledgment of Jesus's divine identity shortly after his life. This deep dive into early Christian worship opens new perspectives on faith and theology.
15:54

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast argues that early Christians worshiped Jesus as divine almost immediately, countering theories of an evolutionary Christology.
  • An analysis of Philippians 2:6-11 reveals early acknowledgment of Jesus's divine pre-existence, shaping worship practices from the outset.

Deep dives

The Debate on Christology

The podcast discusses two contrasting views on the early Christian perception of Jesus's divinity. One perspective suggests an 'evolutionary Christology' where the understanding of Jesus as divine developed gradually after his life, influenced by external factors such as Gentile interpretations. In contrast, the 'Big Bang' theory presents the notion that early Christian worship recognized Jesus as divine almost immediately, arguing for a rapid emergence of Christological insight. Evidence is presented to support the idea that Jesus was worshiped as God right from the start of the Christian movement, challenging gradualist interpretations.

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